Kuda itu dekat sungai.

that

Breakdown of Kuda itu dekat sungai.

• dekat: near
• sungai: the river
• kuda: a horse

Questions & Answers about Kuda itu dekat sungai.

Why is there no word for is in Kuda itu dekat sungai?

In Malay, a separate verb like English is/am/are is often omitted in simple sentences of description or location.

So:

• Kuda itu dekat sungai
• literally: horse that near river
• natural English: The horse is near the river

Malay does not need an extra word for is here. The meaning is understood from the sentence structure.

What does itu mean in this sentence?

Itu usually means that, but in many everyday sentences it also helps make a noun feel specific, so it can sound like English the.

So kuda itu can mean:

• that horse
• or, depending on context, the horse

In this sentence, English often translates it as the horse if the horse is already known in the conversation.

Why does itu come after kuda instead of before it?